Joshua found Jericho to be a well defended city.
Security has changed a little since then . . .
We went through two check points to get into the city of Jericho as we made our way there from Qumran last Thursday. Happily this time through didn’t require full ID checks as they just waved us through, but we had been carrying our passports to be ready.
Herod was a big fan of Jericho so he built one of his many palaces there. Our first stop on the south side of town was the remains of his first century complex.
He actually built two structures on both sides of the wadi (ravine, except when it has rained, then it’s a torrent) and connected them with a sprawling bridge.
The bridge is gone, but the wadi’s still there:
With enough moisture for a few plants:
Our visit brought out Herod’s latter-day neighbors. One of our Capuchin’s O.F.M. Franciscan’s beards proved to be curious enough to feel—and to smell . . .
The oldest synagogue found in Israel is just up the hill.
Currently it’s not in use.
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3 comments:
The synagogue that is not currently in use, reminds me of course of my Uncle Allen's take on his trip to Greece -- but I think I wrote it to you before: "I'm a building inspector, and I can tell you that some of those buildings are a total loss."
That's not a Capuchin, Padre. Capuchins have long pointy hoods like your friends the CFRs. Btw, why haven't you been at the station masses?
The Station Masses are just touch too far from Jerusalem . . . so I'll have to find some wayside chapels around here--
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